Keep Your I On The Prize

On-air challenge: Every answer is a made-up two-word phrase in which the letter I is inserted somewhere inside the first word to get the second word.

Last week's challenge: Think of a word starting with G. Change the G to a T and rearrange the letters after the T. The result will be a new word with the same meaning as the original word.

Answer: Giant; titan

Winner: Bonnie Kind of Germantown, Md.

Next week's challenge from Merl Reagle, one of the country's top crossword makers: Can you name three common three-letter words that are all synonyms and which together consist of nine different letters of the alphabet? Here's a hint: The letters A and O are not used.

If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you Thursdayat 3 p.m. Eastern.

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Rachel Martin. Psst, I have a secret to tell you. Come a little closer. It's time for the puzzle.

MARTIN: So, I understand you are in New York City this week. What's going on?

SHORTZ: Well, I'm at the NPR bureau in Manhattan, and I'm here to do a rehearsal for ASK ME ANOTHER, you know, NPR's quiz and game show.

MARTIN: Yeah.

SHORTZ: Which is going to be taped in two weeks and aired sometime in July.

MARTIN: With the host Ophira Eisenberg. Great job.

SHORTZ: Oh man, she's good. And I have an original puzzle for that.

MARTIN: Very cool. So, remind us what was last week's challenge.

SHORTZ: Yes. I asked you to think of a word starting with G. I said change the G to a T and rearrange the letters after the T. The result will be a new word with the same meaning as the original word. And the answer is giant and titan.

KIND: Well, I have my own rules which involve no looking things up, no paper and pencil. And when I can't sleep at night, I think about the puzzle. And Wednesday night it somehow popped into my head through some process I don't understand. There it was.

MARTIN: Sometimes you never know how our brains...

KIND: That's right.

MARTIN: And I understand you're from Germantown, Maryland.

KIND: I am.

MARTIN: How do you spend your days in that part of the world?

KIND: Well, I'm retired and when it's not too hot I like to play tennis, run, hike and read and do crossword puzzles.

MARTIN: Fabulous. So, you will be well-prepared for today.

KIND: I don't know about that.

MARTIN: Have you been playing the puzzle a long time?

KIND: I've been playing since postcard days.

MARTIN: Great. Well, we're so happy to have you here. Will Shortz is on the line. Do you have a question for Will?

KIND: Well, I've been doing crossword puzzles actually since college and I wonder how you are able to come up with so many different kinds of word puzzles? Is it something you've always done or do you work at it?

SHORTZ: Well, I certainly work at it, yeah. I've been making puzzles since I was eight or nine. And crosswords, really, I didn't start making crosswords until my 20s.

MARTIN: It's puzzle magic, Bonnie.

KIND: That's right.

MARTIN: There is no answer.

KIND: I think that's the right answer.

MARTIN: It's an enigma wrapped up in a mystery. OK. Without further ado, Bonnie, are you ready to play the puzzle?

KIND: Only if you'll help me.

MARTIN: Ah. OK. I will. Will, let's do it.

SHORTZ: All right, Bonnie and Rachel. Every answer today is a made-up two-word phrase in which the letter I is inserted somewhere the first word to get the second word. For example, if I gave you the clue sneeze or snort, you would say nose noise.

KIND: Oh, OK.

MARTIN: You got it?

SHORTZ: Put an I inside the first word to get the second word.

KIND: Yes, I've got it.

SHORTZ: Here's number one: an angry cleaning woman.

KIND: Mad maid.

SHORTZ: That's it. Number two is an expo that's a long way off.

KIND: Far fair.

SHORTZ: Um-hum. Two rid chemist Marie of the disease.

KIND: Cure Curie.

SHORTZ: Um-hum. Cry of horror from a film ogre.

KIND: I think I'm going to need some help. A film ogre.

SHORTZ: A film ogre.

KIND: Oh, the hulk?

MARTIN: No, more modern.

KIND: More modern. I'm afraid I don't know. So, help me.

MARTIN: OK. Is it a Shrek shriek?

SHORTZ: It's a Shrek shriek.

KIND: Shrek shriek. I should have known.

SHORTZ: Is right. OK. Equal power held between Republicans and Democrats.

KIND: Equal power.

SHORTZ: Well, first of all, what are the Republicans...

KIND: They're parties.

SHORTZ: They're a party and put an I in there.

KIND: Party parity.

SHORTZ: Party parity is it. As dazzling as a big wide grin, for example.

KIND: A big wide grin is a smile.

SHORTZ: Yes, and put an I in there. And I said - the clue is as dazzling as...

KIND: Dazzling - a smile simile.

SHORTZ: Yes, a smile simile, right. Dissuades people who are trying to lose weight.

KIND: Deters dieters.

SHORTZ: Excellent. Dogs in a French city that hosts an annual film festival.

KIND: Cannes canine.

SHORTZ: That's it. Kind person who's not Jewish.

KIND: Gentle gentile.

SHORTZ: That's right. And your last one: daydreams of Paul who warn colonists the British are coming, the British are coming.

KIND: Revere and it's...

SHORTZ: Reveres and...

KIND: Reveres and it's reveries.

SHORTZ: Reveres reveries is it. Nice job.

MARTIN: Bonnie, that was excellent.

KIND: Now I can relax.

MARTIN: Oh. Take a deep breath.

KIND: Yes.

MARTIN: You were fabulous.

KIND: I enjoyed it.

MARTIN: For playing the puzzle today, you'll get a WEEKEND EDITION lapel pin, puzzle books and games. It's very exciting.

KIND: That it is. It is. I've always wanted a lapel pin.

(LAUGHTER)

MARTIN: Now is your chance. I'm so happy for you. You can read all about it at npr.org/puzzle. And before we let you go, Bonnie, what is your public radio station?

KIND: I am a member of WAMU.

MARTIN: Our local favorite, WAMU in Washington, D.C.

KIND: That's right.

MARTIN: Bonnie Kind of Germantown, Maryland. Bonnie, thanks do much for playing the puzzle.

KIND: Thank you very much.

MARTIN: OK, Will. What's the challenge for next week?

SHORTZ: Yes, it comes from our old pal Merl Reagle who is one of the country's top crossword makers, and his puzzles appear in Sunday newspapers all over the U.S.

Can you name three common three-letter words that are all synonyms and, which together, consist of nine different letters of the alphabet? And here's a hint: The letters A and O are not used.

So again, three common three-letter words that are all synonyms, together they consist of nine different letters of the alphabet? Don't use A and O. What words are these?

MARTIN: All right, when you've got the answer, go to our website, npr.org/puzzle and click on the Submit Your Answer link - just one entry per person, please. And our deadline for entries is Thursday, June 6th at 3 P.M. Eastern Time.

Please include a phone number where we can reach you at about that time. And if you're the winner we'll give you a call, and you will get to play on the air with the puzzle editor of The New York Times and WEEKEND EDITION's puzzle-master, Will Shortz.